Applying for an Attestatie de vita (certificate of life) in the Netherlands
Does an organisation outside the Netherlands (e.g. a pension fund) need proof that you are alive? Then you need an Attestatie de vita (certificate of life). You can apply for this at your municipality.
There are 2 types of proof of life documents that are available in the Netherlands:
- The Attestatie de vita is an international document in Dutch and French. This document comes from the Register of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships (registers van de burgerlijke stand). You can use the certificate outside the Netherlands. You can also get an annex to the certificate explaining the document in German, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Turkish.
- The Bewijs van in leven zijn (certificate of existence) is an excerpt taken from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP). This states that you are registered as alive in the BRP. This extract is in Dutch and can be used in the Netherlands.
This is how it works in your (future) place of residence
Attestatie de vita
You can apply for an Attestatie de vita (certificate of life) from the municipality where you live and are registered. You can only make the application yourself. Someone else cannot do it for you. You must make an appointment with the municipality to apply for a certificate of life.
- a valid ID;
- debit card to pay;
- if you need proof for a pension fund, also bring the letter from the pension fund that requests this.
Make an appointment
You need to make an appointment.
Evidence for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands: € 16,50
International proof: € 16,50
If you need proof for the pension fund, you do not have to pay anything. In that case, you must bring the letter from the pension fund as proof.
You will receive the certificate immediately.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Culemborg
Visiting address
Ridderstraat 250
4100AC Culemborg
| Monday | 9:00 - 16:00 |
| Tuesday | 9:00 - 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 9:00 - 16:00 |
| Thursday | 9:00 - 16:00 |
| Friday | 9:00 - 12:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |